Pope decries 'latest vile' attack on Syrians in Easter address

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

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Pope Francis walks past flowers as he celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis walks past flowers as he celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

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Nuns attend a Easter Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Nuns attend a Easter Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

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Pope Francis kisses the altar as he celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis kisses the altar as he celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

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Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

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Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

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Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

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Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the Easter Mass, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

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Swiss Guards stand in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Swiss Guards stand in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017 (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Photo: POOL

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Pope Francis addresses the crowd prior to delivering his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. On Christianity's most joyful day, Pope Francis lamented the horrors generated by war and hatred, delivering an Easter Sunday message that also decried the "latest vile" attack on civilians in Syria. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) less

Pope Francis addresses the crowd prior to delivering his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. On ... more

Photo: POOL

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Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Photo: POOL

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Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Photo: POOL

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Swiss guards march in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. Pope Francis celebrated Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square, decorated with colorful spring flowers. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) less

Swiss guards march in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. Pope Francis celebrated Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square, decorated with colorful spring flowers. (AP Photo/Gregorio ... more

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

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Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

Image 26 of 36

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

Image 27 of 36

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis waves after celebrating Easter Sunday Mass, from the main balcony of in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis waves after celebrating Easter Sunday Mass, from the main balcony of in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis delivers his blessing after celebrating Easter Sunday Mass, from the main balcony of in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis delivers his blessing after celebrating Easter Sunday Mass, from the main balcony of in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis is driven through the crowd after celebrating Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis is driven through the crowd after celebrating Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

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Pope Francis, left, waves as he is driven through the crowd after celebrating Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis, left, waves as he is driven through the crowd after celebrating Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Photo: Gregorio Borgia, STF

Image 32 of 36

Pope Francis addresses faithful prior to delivering his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message, from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) less

Pope Francis addresses faithful prior to delivering his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message, from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP ... more

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

Image 33 of 36

Pope Francis addresses faithful prior to delivering his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message, from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) less

Pope Francis addresses faithful prior to delivering his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message, from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (AP ... more

Photo: Andrew Medichini, STF

Image 34 of 36

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Photo: L'Osservatore Romano, POOL

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Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 16, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

Photo: POOL

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Pope Francis gives the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing for Rome and the world from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica following his Easter Sunday Mass.

Pope Francis gives the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing for Rome and the world from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica following his Easter Sunday Mass.

Photo: HO

Pope decries 'latest vile' attack on Syrians in Easter address

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VATICAN CITY - On Christianity's most joyful day, Pope Francis lamented the horrors generated by war and hatred, delivering an Easter Sunday message that also decried the "latest vile" attack on civilians in Syria.

Both in his impromptu homily during Mass in St. Peter's Square and later in his formal "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message delivered from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Francis reflected on a litany of suffering in the world, including wars, oppressive regimes, human trafficking, corruption, famine and domestic violence.

He encouraged people to hold fast in their "fearful hearts" to faith, acknowledging that many people wonder where God is amid so much evil and suffering in the world.

The crowd size, cited by the Vatican security forces, was smaller in comparison to some other Easters, when about 100,000 turned out for the occasion.

After Mass, Francis toured the square in his open-topped popemobile and waved to well-wishers.

In his balcony address, Francis prayed that God would sustain those working to comfort and help the civilian population in Syria, "prey to a war that continues to sow horror and death."

He cited the explosion Saturday that ripped through a bus depot in the Aleppo area where evacuees were awaiting transfer, killing at least 100 people.

"Yesterday saw the latest vile attack on fleeing refugees," the pope said, also praying for peace in the Holy Land, Iraq and Yemen.

Separately, in a letter he sent to the bishop of Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, whose name he chose for his papacy, the pope decried the "scandalous reality of a world still marked by the divide between the endless number of indigent" and the "tiny portion of those who possess the majority of riches and presume to decide the fates of humanity."

Francis has repeatedly championed the dignity of migrants fleeing war, persecution or poverty. On Sunday he recalled "all those forced to leave their homelands as a result of armed conflicts, terrorist attacks, famine and oppressive regimes."